Historical Facts About Jainism

Author(s): Lala Lajpatrai
Publisher: Jain Associations of India Mumbai

Page 54

one side of the picture and that also in grotesque colours out of all resemblance to the original. Are not the Jains entitled to complain of such misrepresentation and injustice when they find the mistaken Historians of old being survilely copied, and wlien there are signs of disinclination to examine materials leading to contrary conclusions. This may be pardonable as regards. these Huropean historians, but you are a distinguished Indian Leader writing about Indians of whom far more is expected. You are supposed to be in close touch with the people and their religions, and are supposed to give first hand and accurate information about them. The liuropean historians were writing when some of the present historic materials were not available, and they could not also get first hand information from Jain sources being far away from India. You are not working under siinilar disadvantages but have on the contrary the advantage of knowing Jains and their religion first hand. Apart from this scholastic considerations, you as a popular leader of consideraable standing ought to be aware of thie religious susceptibilities of the Indian people--and if in spite of it you fall into error and express wrong views as to their religious practices, the Jains, as a.. coinmunity, may well think that there lias been, if not positive and intentional misrepresentation, at least a frigid disinclination to show Jainism in its true light owing to your religious bias. You: